Part 67 (1/2)
”Was that suggestion acted upon?”
”No. Scarlett was willing to comply, but Zahn refused his offer.”
”Why did he refuse?”
”He was frightened to trust himself with the prisoner.”
”This is very important, Mr. Tomkinson. I must ask you to repeat the murdered man's exact words when he refused to accompany the prisoner to the field.”
”I do not recollect his exact words. As nearly as I can remember, he said that he would rather run the risk of getting lost in the bush than be thrown over a precipice.”
”Did you know they had quarrelled previously?”
”I learnt so, at the time to which I refer.”
”Thank you, sir. Your evidence has proved to be valuable, very valuable indeed. I shall ask the witness no more questions, Your Honour.”
Scarlett's counsel was contemplatively tapping his front teeth with his forefinger throughout this examination. He now rose, and informed the Judge that though he desired to ask the witness no questions at the present time, perhaps he might ask for him and the witness Amiria to be recalled at a later stage of the proceedings.
The next witness was a digger, a short man with a bushy, red beard. But even more extraordinary than the man's beard was his casual, almost insolent, bearing. He glanced at the Judge contemptuously, he looked pityingly at the jury, he regarded the barristers with dislike, and then he settled himself resignedly against the front of the witness-box, and fixed his eyes superciliously upon the Sergeant of Police.
”Are you the owner of a claim on Bush Robin Creek?”
”I am, and it's a good claim too.” The witness evidently considered himself on familiar terms with the counsel for the Crown.
”Did you sell gold to Isaac Zahn?”
”I did, an' he give me 3 15s. an ounce. The result of a month's work, yer Honour.”
”How much did you sell?”
”Forty-six ounces fifteen pennyweights; but, bless yer, I'd on'y begun to scratch the top of the claim.”
The idea of the witness blessing the Crown Prosecutor convulsed the bar with merriment; but, looking straight at the witness, the Judge said, ”I beg you to remember, sir, that you are in a Court of Law, and not in the bar of a public-house.” To which admonition the digger was understood, by those nearest to him, to murmur, ”I on'y wish I were.”
”Was there anything unusual in the appearance of the gold that you sold to Zahn?”
”It was very 'eavy gold,” replied the witness, ”an' there was one nugget that 'e give me extry for, as a curio.”
”Indeed,” said the counsel, as though this fact was quite new to him.
”What was it like?”
”It weighed close on two ounces, an' was shaped like a kaka's head.”
”What is a _kaka_, my man, and what shape is it's head?”
”I thought you'd ha' known--it's a parrot, mister.”
”Would you know the nugget, if you saw it again?”